Formation On 1 November 1884 the 89th Infantry Regiment (Brigade "Salerno") was formed in
Bologna with companies ceded by the
9th Infantry Regiment (
Brigade "Regina"),
11th Infantry Regiment (
Brigade "Casale"), 39th Infantry Regiment (
Brigade "Bologna"), 49th Infantry Regiment (
Brigade "Parma"), and 71st Infantry Regiment (
Brigade "Puglie"). On the same day the 90th Infantry Regiment (Brigade "Salerno") was formed in Bologna with companies ceded by the 10th Infantry Regiment (
Brigade "Regina"), 12th Infantry Regiment (
Brigade "Casale"),
40th Infantry Regiment (
Brigade "Bologna"), 50th Infantry Regiment (
Brigade "Parma"), and
72nd Infantry Regiment (
Brigade "Puglie"). Both regiments consisted of a staff and three battalions, with four companies per battalion. Together the two regiments formed the
Brigade "Salerno". Basilicata In 1887 the regiment's 4th Company participated in the
Italo-Ethiopian War of 1887–1889. In 1895–96 the regiment provided eight officers and 275 enlisted for units deployed to
Italian Eritrea for the
First Italo-Ethiopian War. On 15 February 1917 the depot of the 89th Infantry Regiment formed the 260th Infantry Regiment, which on the following 26 February was assigned to the newly formed
Brigade "Murge". The battalions for the two new regiments of the Brigade "Murge" were drawn from six existing brigades (
Brigade "Acqui",
Brigade "Bergamo",
Brigade "Toscana",
Brigade "Salerno", Brigade "Barletta", and
Brigade "Catanzaro"), whose regiments each ceded two companies. In May 1917 the brigade fought in the
Tenth Battle of the Isonzo at
Hudi Log and in August of the same year in the
Eleventh Battle of the Isonzo on the slopes of
Monte Ermada. In October 1917 the brigade was deployed on
Monte Matajur when the
Battle of Caporetto began. On 26 October the Salerno was attacked on its flank by the
Imperial German Army's
12th Division and forced to retreat with heavy losses. The 89th retreated from Matajur with 20 officers and 387 enlisted out of more than 3,000 troops the regiment had at the start of the battle, while the 90th Infantry Regiment retreated with eight officers and about 400 enlisted. During the following retreat to the
Piave (river the two regiments lost almost all their remaining personnel. On 20 October 1929, the command of the division moved from Genoa to
Imperia and was consequently renamed
5th Territorial Division of Imperia. In 1930 the 89th Infantry Regiment "Salerno" moved from Genoa to
Ventimiglia. On 1 January 1935, the 5th Territorial Division of Imperia changed its name to
5th Infantry Division "Cosseria". A name change that also extended to the division's infantry brigade. From August 1935 to September 1936, the regiment was assigned to the 105th Infantry Division "Cosseria II", which had been formed as temporary replacement, while the 5th Infantry Division "Cosseria" was deployed to
Ethiopia for the
Second Italo-Ethiopian War. During this time the regiment provided 38 officers and 185 enlisted for units deployed for the war. In May 1943 the survivors of the division returned to Italy, where the division was rebuilt. At the end of July 1943 the Cosseria division was sent to Lombardy, where the division was disbanded by
invading German forces after the announcement of the
Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943. The battalion consisted of a command, a command platoon, and four recruits companies. On 15 November 1975 the II Recruits Training Battalion "Salerno" in Savona was renamed
16th Infantry Battalion "Savona". On 15 April 1977 the battalion's detachment in Albenga became an autonomous unit and was renamed
14th Bersaglieri Battalion "Sernaglia". In 1987 the command platoon was expanded to command and services company. On 31 January 1991 the 89th Infantry Battalion "Salerno" was disbanded after the battalion had transferred the flag of the 89th Infantry Regiment "Salerno" to the Shrine of the Flags in the
Vittoriano in Rome on 15 January. == References ==